Cheshire Pairs Summer School And Day Camp

Scheduling Helps Parents

CHESHIRE — The school system and parks and recreation department will team up to allow children taking morning summer school classes to attend an afternoon day camp.

Shirley Olson, summer school coordinator, and recreation Director Bob Ceccolini have scheduled two summer school camp sessions, from July 3 to July 14 and July 17 to July 28.

Under the plan, students who just completed kindergarten to Grade 6 would attend classes at Highland School from 9 a.m. to noon, then move to the Highland-based camp until 5:30 p.m.

``We're excited,'' said Olson, noting summer school enrollment steadily dropped the past several years. The per-session average of 200 elementary students plunged to 100 to 120 last year, she said.

Olson attributed the enrollment decline to parents who needed a full-day program for their children. Until now, students attending morning summer school classes were often precluded from attending summer camp and other recreational activities, she said.

Ceccolini and Olson believe their ``Summer School Sizzler'' program, currently limited to 50 children per session, will fill a void for parents.

``We're excited,'' Olson said. ``This is a trial balloon. . . . We think it is the best of both worlds.''

Summer school programs, geared for students who need reinforcement and for those who seek enrichment, offer many courses. Past summer classes for elementary schoolers, which allow a maximum of 12 students, have included creative writing, typing for grades 5 and 6, Italian, German, Spanish, arts and crafts, storytelling, and computer work in science, math and language arts.

``This extended time should help working parents,'' said Olson, noting that registration for the two school-recreation sessions will begin in late March- early April.

The cost for the July 3-14 session is $145; the July 17-28 session is $160. If the 50 spots per session are filled and a waiting list is formed, Ceccolini said, the program might be expanded if enough staff members can be hired.

Twice a week, he said, campers will be bused to the Mixville recreation area for swimming. Ceccolini called the program an example of cooperation between the board of education and town departments.

``We jumped at it. We like to try new things,'' he said.

The program is being well-received by parents.

``It sounds great. I wish I had that when my children were little,'' said Bonnie DiMauro, treasurer and former president of the Cheshire PTA Council. ``It's nice for the parents, and gives the kids a variety of things to do during the day.''

Parent Ronnie Greenspan said she has wanted to send her children to summer school for enrichment, but attending classes would have prevented going to day camp.